VVS Laxman again stood in between victory and Australia. The right hand batsman scripted a spirited innings of 73(N.O) against the visiting Australia to enable India win the first test match at Mohali by 1 wicket.

Needing 161 runs for the victory, India were cruising at one point with Tendulkar and Laxman in the crease. While night watchman Zaheer Khan was out for 10, Tendulkar completed 1000 runs in a calendar year for the 6th time and became the first player to do so in 2010.

The master batsman was out for 38. India lost wickets in quick succession with scoreboard reading 124/8, with Tendulkar, Dhoni (Runout for 2) and Harbhajan Singh (2) back in the pavilion. Ishant Sharma who brought back India in the reckoning by taking 3 wickets on Monday joined VVS Laxman.

VVS Laxman and Ishant Sharma scored 81 runs together, in which Ishant Sharma made valuable 31 before returning to the pavilion with India needing 11 runs to win. Pragyan Ojha joined VVS Laxman and ensured that India wins the match.

India leads the 2-match series 1-0 and retains the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India will miss the services of Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma for the second test match against Australia to be played in Bangalore. Abhinav Mukund and Jaidev Unadkat will replaced the injured duo.

Brief Score Card:

India

First Innings - 405 (Tendulkar 98, Raina 86, Johnson 5-64)
Second Innings - 216 for 9 (Laxman 73*, Hilfenhaus 4-57, Bollinger 3-32)

Australia

First Innings - 428 (Watson 126, Paine 92, Zaheer 5-94)
Second Innings - 192 (Watson 56, Ishant 3-34, Zaheer 3-43)

Result: India win by 1 wicket

Player of the match: Zaheer Khan (India)